Pittsburgh International Airport January Passenger Traffic Report: Traffic Continues to Increase, International Passengers Nearly Double from 2015 to 2016

– Following 1.6 percent growth in passenger traffic at Pittsburgh International in 2015, figures from the first month of 2016 show the same upward trajectory, as well a notable increase in international travelers. 

Passengers in the month of January totaled 560,047, a 2.3 percent increase when compared with January 2015, which had 547,341 total passengers. Additionally, commercial operations (take-offs and landings) were up nearly three percent: from 9,270 in January 2015 to 9,537 in January 2016. 

Nearly every carrier – Allegiant, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, OneJet and Sun Air Express – all showed increases which are a result of both new flights and additional flight frequency to established destinations. 

Additionally, the number of origin-and-destination (non-connecting) passengers traveling nonstop internationally from the airport nearly doubled from 6,964 in 2015 to 12,583 in 2016, the highest number since 2011. 

“We’re delighted to see these increases in the number of people traveling nonstop internationally from Pittsburgh,” said Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. “It demonstrates a healthy and growing market.” 

New international service to Toronto on Porter, larger aircraft on Air Canada, and expanded service to the Caribbean have helped add nearly 6,000 passengers from January 2015 to January 2016 who are flying on nonstop international flights. 

Caribbean charter flights on Allegiant (arranged by tour operators Apple Vacations and Vacation Express) were a large part of the increase. More charter flights were flown to Cancun and Punta Cana in January 2016 versus January 2015, using larger aircraft. On the scheduled service side, Delta started its seasonal Cancun flights earlier this year also helping boost international passengers in January. 

Beginning May 1, Delta will expand nonstop international service to Paris to seven days per week through October 29. Later this year, additional improvements are planned in the international arrivals area to help expedite re-entry. 

Pittsburgh International Airport serves 54 airports nonstop on 13 carriers.